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Twins set to act once market starts to take shape

Twins set to act once market starts to take shape

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire talks about keeping Joe Mauer healthy, the infield's composition and the need for competition in 2013

By Rhett Bollinger
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MLB.com |

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With the big dominoes yet to fall in the starting pitching market, the Twins are still in a wait-and-see mode to add rotation help at the Winter Meetings.

Top free agents such as Zack Greinke and Anibal Sanchez have yet to sign, but once they do, Twins manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday on Day 3 of the Winter Meetings that he expects much more activity on the free-agent front.

"It usually happens that way," Ryan said. "The upper-tier guys -- as soon as they go it starts to take some shape and some form. And I suspect that's going to happen fairly soon. The guys who are most sought-after make a deal and then you don't want to be left. It's a bad feeling if you're an agent and clubs you were talking to go elsewhere. So we'll probably see a rush of getting things done."

Ryan wouldn't confirm that he already has offers on the table for starting pitching, but the club made offers to free-agent pitchers such as Joe Saunders and Francisco Liriano, according to reports.

The Twins also have been linked to free-agent starters such as Brett Myers, Kevin Correia, John Lannan, Brandon McCarthy, Ryan Dempster and Mike Pelfrey. They also inquired about Rangers left-hander Derek Holland, according to a FOX Sports report.

But they saw one potential option sign elsewhere, as Joe Blanton agreed to a two-year deal worth $15 million with the Angels. Ryan, though, said there are still plenty of candidates out there.

"We've had more discussions," Ryan said. "We've had more dialogue. We've had more exchanges with various guys. But whether or not it comes to the finality of bringing a guy in we'll see."

Ryan added that payroll isn't an issue for the club, as it currently sits at about $70 million after opening last season with a payroll around $100 million. He said it could be around that $100 million mark like last year, but it depends on the situation.

"It's fluid," Ryan said. "I don't have any problems with where we're at."

But Ryan all but ruled out adding a high-priced starter such as Greinke or Sanchez, as he doesn't want to tie up too much salary to only a small group of players. The Twins are already set to pay Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau a combined $37 million.

"I think it's dangerous to start putting such a high percentage of your payroll on just three or four guys on a team," Ryan said. "It just doesn't work. I think it's a recipe for disaster. When you've got 50 or 60 percent wrapped up in three or four guys, historically that hasn't worked, and I don't think it'll ever work."

The Twins also remain in the market for a third baseman to create competition for Trevor Plouffe. But St. Paul native Jack Hannahan doesn't appear to be a fit, as he's been offered a Major League deal from at least one other club while the Twins are only offering a Minor League deal, according to a source.

Hannahan wants the chance for regular playing time with a Major League contract and has garnered interest from seven clubs, including the Twins, Yankees, White Sox and Reds.